Look around your office, your school, your legislature, your board room. How many are Asians or Pacific Islanders? How many hold key positions?Cultural difference can be a major barrier for people trying to get ahead. Author Jane Hyun coined the term “bamboo ceiling” - a play on the term glass ceiling - in her book Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling: Career Strategies for Asians, which takes a look at cultural and organizational factors that make it difficult for Asians to move up in corporate America. The bamboo ceiling is real, though, as Hyun explains in her book, it’s not always imposed by others.

What We DoAPI Forward provides education and training for local API students and young professionals to build the skills and behaviors needed to break that so-called bamboo ceiling and to be successful leaders in our community.In order to change the world, we need not only smart individuals, we need diversity in leaders.Like us on Facebook: APIForward.Sign up today to receive our latest news announcements!

What's in a name? A lot, according to a new study from researchers at Ryerson University and the University of Toronto, both in Canada.

The study found that job applicants in Canada with Asian names — names of Indian, Pakistani or Chinese origin — were 28 percent less likely to get called for an interview compared to applicants with Anglo names, even when all the qualifications were the same. Researchers used data from a previous study conducted in 2011 where they sent out 12,910 fictitious resumes in response to 3,225 job postings. The previous study, also in Canada, similarly found that applicants with Anglo first names and Asian last names didn't fare much better than applicants with Asian first and last names. To read more >

Cultural Differences in Leadership Styles by Tara Duggan, studioD

Effective leaders recognize that choosing the right leadership style for the current situation tends to improve the likelihood of success. Typically though, most leaders use a primary style in their management approach. Cultural traditions and values play a role in a leader's style. According to the "International Journal of Cross Cultural Management," leadership traits result partly from cultural norms and partly from the needs of the leadership job. Cultures differ regarding the use of power. People who act to maximize their personal gain behave as individualists. Collectivists, on the other hand, are expected to act to help the community. By acknowledging these differences, leaders improve their ability to function while conducting global business. To read more >